HARRISON, New Jersey (March 4, 2018) – In its second game of the 2018 SheBelieves Cup, the U.S. Women’s National Team drew France 1-1 in front of 25,706 fans on Sunday afternoon at Red Bull Arena.
The first half was an even affair with the USA taking five shots to France’s four. The opportunities to score weren’t extensive for either side but both teams managed to find the back of the net in the first 45 minutes, with Mallory Pugh striking first, and Eugenie Le Sommer finding some space for a clean finish from the left side for France’s game-tying goal in the 38th minute.
In the second half, the U.S. got off to a slow start but found its attacking form with second half substitutes Savannah McCaskill and Lynn Williams bringing fresh legs into the game to create opportunities. France had a pair of great chances in the final 10 minutes but USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher came up huge and stopped back-to-back point-blank shots from Valérie Gauvin and Amandine Henry to maintain the tie.
The U.S. WNT played in the first game of the day today, with Germany vs. England still to come at 3pm ET on ESPN3 before the final standings following two matchdays can be confirmed.
Next, the U.S. WNT travels to Orlando, Fla. for the final leg of the SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday, March 7 at Orlando City Stadium, home of MLS’s Orlando SC and the NWSL’s Orlando Pride. France will take against Germany (4 p.m. ET; ESPN3), while the USA is set to wrap up the tournament vs. England at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNews.
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2018 SheBelieves Cup Standings
|
Team |
GP |
W |
L |
T |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts. |
|
USA |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
+1 |
4 |
|
England |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
+3 |
3 |
|
France |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
-4 |
1 |
|
Germany |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Mallory Pugh, 35th minute: Megan Rapinoe’s free kick led to a bit of a scramble inside the box, with France trying to clear it, but the ball hit the post and bounced back out to Pugh, who took a left-footed shot. France’s Sarah Bouhaddi got a hand on the ball but couldn’t stop the shot from bouncing into the back of the net. USA 1, FRA 0. WATCH.
FRA – Eugenie LeSommer (Griedge Mbock Bathy), 38th minute: France responded quickly and built from the back with Mbock Bathy sending a long ball into the box for LeSommer. The talented striker fought past Abby Dahlkemper and dribbled around USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in front of the net before sinking a clean finish from the left side into the far side netting, for the game-tying goal. USA 1, FRA 1. FINAL
Key Plays and Defensive Stops:
USA – Alyssa Naeher, 82nd minute: France’s Asseyi sent a beautiful through ball to Valérie Gauvin inside the six-yard box. The forward took on Naeher one-vs.-one but was denied by the American who cleared it out of bounds. The subsequent corner kick led to the ball landing at Amandine Henry’s feet on the left corner. Henry tried to shoot it from close range but once again Naeher was present to block the shot and maintain the draw. WATCH.
Additional Notes:
– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. France
Date: March 4, 2018
Competition: SheBelieves Cup
Venue: Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.
Kickoff: 12 p.m. ET
Attendance: 25,706
Weather: 44 degrees; cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 0 1
FRA 1 0 1
USA – Mallory Pugh 35th minute
FRA – Eugénie Le Sommer (Griedge Mbock Bathy) 38
Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 22-Taylor Smith (2-Casey Short, 44, 23-Christen Press, 76), 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 17-Tierna Davidson, 5-Kelley O’Hara; 3-Andi Sullivan (10-Carli Lloyd, 73), 6-Morgan Brian, 9-Lindsey Horan (21-Savannah McCaskill, 46); 11-Mallory Pugh (19-Crystal Dunn, 73), 13-Alex Morgan (capt.), 15-Megan Rapinoe (12-Lynn Williams, 46)
Substitutes: 8-Julie Ertz, 14-Sofia Huerta, 16-Emily Sonnett, 18-Jane Campbell, 20-Allie Long, 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head Coach: Jill Ellis
FRA: 16-Sara Bouhaddi; 17- Marion Torrent, 19-Griedge Mbock Bathy, 2-Aïssatou Tounkara, 7-Amel Majri; 18-Viviane Asseyi, 23-Grace Geyoro, 6-Amandine Henry, 9-Eugénie Le Sommer; 13-Valérie Gauvin (20- Kadidiatou Diani, 86), 12- Gaëtane Thiney
Substitutes: 1-Karima Benameur, 3-Eve Perisset, 4-Laura Georges, 5-Estelle Cascarino, 8-Maeva Clemaron, 11-Ouleymata Sarr, 15-Marie-Charlotte Leger, 22-Sakina Karchaoui
Head Coach: Corinne Diacre
Stats Summary: USA / FRA
Shots: 11 / 13
Shots on Goal: 2 / 4
Saves: 3 / 1
Corner Kicks: 7 / 4
Fouls: 9 / 13
Offside: 4 / 4
Misconduct Summary:
FRA – Viviane Asseyi (caution) 30th minute
FRA – Marion Torrent 33
FRA – Eugénie Le Sommer 90
Officials:
Referee: Lucila Venegas (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Enedina Caudillo (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Karen Diaz (MEX)
4th Official: Tatiana Montes (PAN)
Budweiser Woman of the Match: Alyssa Naeher